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Mud-puddling flock (Melete lycimnia), Santa María, Colombia This patch of mud attracted a few hundred Julia butterflies, and a few dozen of these larger Common melwhites. <br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/49031/mud-puddling_flock_dryas_iulia_santa_mara_colombia.html" title="Mud-puddling flock (Dryas iulia), Santa Mar&iacute;a, Colombia"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/49031_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=ik2R5AW6dMp8MgzkNNeTZiZLwYs%3D" width="200" height="116" alt="Mud-puddling flock (Dryas iulia), Santa Mar&iacute;a, Colombia After seeing this behavior where hundreds of butterflies feed on mud for the first time in Sri Lanka, we now saw it again in Colombia. This particular patch of mud attracted hundreds of butterflies, with the dominant species being Dryas iulia (presumed identification). <br /> With thousands of such muddy patches on the same path, it&#039;s weird to see all empty except this one place. Wikipedia explains that in some cases, this is behavioral (males copying each other&#039;s behavior), not because this specific place is so special. <br /> <br /> The second species in the flock (about 10%) is the Common Melwhite:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/49032/mud-puddling_flock_melete_lycimnia_santa_mara_colombia.html Boyac&aacute;,Colombia,Dryas iulia,Fall,Geotagged,Julia Butterfly,Santa Mar&iacute;a,South America,World" /></a></figure> Boyacá,Colombia,Common melwhite,Melete lycimnia,Santa María,South America,World Click/tap to enlarge

Mud-puddling flock (Melete lycimnia), Santa María, Colombia

This patch of mud attracted a few hundred Julia butterflies, and a few dozen of these larger Common melwhites.

Mud-puddling flock (Dryas iulia), Santa María, Colombia After seeing this behavior where hundreds of butterflies feed on mud for the first time in Sri Lanka, we now saw it again in Colombia. This particular patch of mud attracted hundreds of butterflies, with the dominant species being Dryas iulia (presumed identification). <br /> With thousands of such muddy patches on the same path, it's weird to see all empty except this one place. Wikipedia explains that in some cases, this is behavioral (males copying each other's behavior), not because this specific place is so special. <br /> <br /> The second species in the flock (about 10%) is the Common Melwhite:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/49032/mud-puddling_flock_melete_lycimnia_santa_mara_colombia.html Boyacá,Colombia,Dryas iulia,Fall,Geotagged,Julia Butterfly,Santa María,South America,World

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The Common melwhite

"Melete lycimnia", the common melwhite, primrose flag or lycimnia white flag, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Texas in the United States to Bolivia. The habitat consists of lowland rainforests.

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

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Uploaded Mar 2, 2017. Captured Oct 18, 2016 12:17.
country flag of Colombia Explore Colombia 8,334 2,805 0
  • NIKON D810
  • f/5.6
  • 1/200s
  • ISO90
  • 400mm

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